Major Development Plan | Hotel Apron South
The Preliminary Draft Hotel Apron South Major Development Plan (MDP) outlines proposed changes to Melbourne Airport’s airfield to create more aircraft parking and support future growth.
Why it matters
As Melbourne Airport continues to grow, our existing aircraft parking areas are becoming busier, particularly during peak travel periods and overnight. Without additional parking capacity, there is a greater risk of congestion, delays and less efficient aircraft movements around the airport.
What we’re proposing
The proposed works include:
building a new aircraft parking area
reconstructing and renaming Taxiway Sierra
creating additional areas for ground support equipment and aircraft bussing operations.
These improvements will:
provide more space for aircraft parking
reduce congestion around the airfield
support the safe and efficient operation of the airport.
Public exhibition period closed
The public exhibition period for the Hotel Apron South preliminary draft Major Development Plan has now closed.
Melbourne Airport is now considering submissions and preparing the draft Major Development Plan. Once finalised, the draft Major Development Plan will be submitted to the Federal Government Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government for consideration under the Airports Act 1996.
A further update will be provided on this page once the Minister has considered the draft Major Development Plan and made a decision.
Frequently asked questions
An aircraft apron is the paved area of an airport where aircraft are parked for boarding and disembarking passengers, loading and unloading cargo, refueling, maintenance, and other ground servicing activities.
It is separate from the runway and taxiways and is designed to support the safe and efficient movement and parking of aircraft while they are on the ground.
Additional aircraft parking provides great flexibility for aircraft on the ground, reduces operational congestion and supports safe and efficient airport operations during peak periods.
Improved apron layouts can reduce taxiing distances, minimise delays for aircraft waiting for parking positions, and improve the coordination of ground handling activities, resulting in more efficient operations.
Taxiway Sierra has reached the end of its operational life and needs to be rebuilt. As part of the project, the taxiway will be raised to align with the new aircraft parking area and renamed Taxiway Papa because it will connect directly to the new Papa Apron.
Under the Airports Act 1996, certain airport developments must be assessed through a Major Development Plan (MDP) process before they can proceed.
The proposed works are classified as a major airport development because they involve constructing a new aircraft parking area in an area defined as environmentally significant in Melbourne Airport’s Master Plan 2022 and may have environmental impacts.
As a result, Melbourne Airport is required to prepare an MDP for consideration by the Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government.
After the Public Exhibition period from 10 August - 4 September 2026, the draft Major Development Plan will be submitted to the Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government for approval.
In accordance with the Airports Act 1996, the following will be submitted to the Federal Minister:
The draft Major Development Plan
Copies of all submissions received during the consultation period
A Supplementary Report detailing a summary of issues raised, responses to submissions, any amendments made to the Major Development Plan, and evidence that the consultation requirements under Section 92 of the Airports Act have been satisfied, including copies of published notices.
The Preliminary Draft Hotel Apron South Major Development Plan (MDP) is available below.